The Special Representative of the OSCE in Ukraine shared with the journalists the news from the negotiation on Donbas in Minsk

11:41 / 16 Jun. 2016 / 141

The Special Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office in Ukraine and in the Trilateral Contact Group (TCG), Ambassador Martin Sajdik, shared with the journalists the news from the negotiation on Donbas in Minsk.

Mr Sajdik noted that the humanitarian sub-group of Trilateral Contact Group is still on the way of the progress on the issue of prisoners release in Donbas.

Unfortunately, so far we failed to make any progress on the release of persons withheld during the conflict. Humanitarian subgroup coordinator urged its members to intensify efforts to release the sick and wounded firstly. Economic affairs sub-group discussed the issues of water supply, railways restructuring and resumption of payments management in Donbas, – said Mr Sajdik.

According to the Special Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office in Ukraine and in the Trilateral Contact Group (TCG) the participants of Safety subgroup discussed various aspects of the problems concerning the violations of the ceasefire in the Donbas. The safety sub-group continued discussing the issues of the shelling of residential areas in the districts of Donetsk in early June. Previously, according to the facts was carried out a preliminary investigation. The security coordinator for the subgroup proposed to investigate all the facts, as well as threats against the Special OSCE monitoring mission in Donbas.

There is some positive spirits in discussions of withdrawal the armed forces from the line of fire. I do hope the safety sub-group will achieve concrete results to the next meeting. The subgroup of the Political Affairs discussed the modality of local elections in some regions of Donetsk and Lugansk regions, as well as various aspects of the participation of political parties. The sides also exchanged views on the issue of amnesty, – said Saydik.

Earlier, Daria Olifer, the spokesman for Ukraine’s representative on the Trilateral contact group in Minsk announced three main topics to discuss in Minsk. In particular, she noted that because of the deteriorating security situation in the Donbas. Ukraine proposed to investigate immediately all recent cases of attacks. At the meeting on humanitarian issues subgroup raised the question of the release of the hostages and initiated a special day when mothers and wives could visit their relatives held hostage at Donbas uncontrolled by Kiev.